News - Modified Production Number 8
Charlton Raceway
Charlton hosted a club meeting as support to the sprintcars. We started the night on a wet, greasy track, which later formed a brilliant race track. Heat one I started out of 6 and made my way up to 2nd with the unfortunate loss of Darran Lester as he hit the wall in turn 4 which left him with damage that saw him out for the rest of the night, and Shane Dennis who had mechanical dramas that saw him head to the infield part way through the race. I finished 2nd behind Robert Trapp who was really on the pace.
Heat 2 I started out 5 and on the start the accelerator pedal stuck on flat. I got caught up with Rick Price causing the right wheel wheel to snap the axle. Heat 3 was just as short lived, on the first lap the front right hand control arm broke on the car, most likely due to contact in the earlier heat.
I was able to get the car repaired for the feature but had to start off the rear after missing out on points with dropping 2 heats. I took the first few laps easy and then realised that there was a really good race line down low. After a handful of laps I found myself up in the top 4. I came up to Peter Gray, who had been driving well all night, and we raced together for quite a few laps before I dived down the inside going into turn 3. With only 3 laps to go I had the almost impossible task of catching Trappy who had, by this stage gotten a big lead. I was using the low line while Trappy seemed to be sitting on the high line and I managed to close the gap. On the last lap I got up beside him going down the back straight and it came down to the last corner, but Trappy got to the line first by a not much more than a bumper bar gap. I finished in a close 2nd with Peter Gray coming home in 3rd.
I'd like to thank Shane Krause and Darrin Shearn for all their help throughout the night. Without their effort I would never have made it back out onto the track. I'd also like to thank Trappy and The Mac's for their help even though they had their own cars to be getting ready for the feature.